Virginia

[ApiaryandAviary]

umm, yes you are reading something into my post that is not there. you have 1159 posts. I choose not to clarify any further

Hi there Cubalaya. Those are surely some beautiful birds. Never met a chicken I did not like. I am actually on my second "Master Plan" bc the first one just did not work out the way I wanted. I feel as if, there is always room for improvement in my plans.

 

[finnfur]

Good point.

I have 9 white leghorns that I hatched in my classroom last year (6th grade Science). 2 Golden Comets (I LOVE their demeanor!), and 1 silver laced wyandotte (sp.) I also have some rabbits.

I have 25 "heavy birds" for meat on their way from murray mcmurray hatchery as we speak

If you want to read some more details, I just started a website for our little homestead: www.splitpoplarhills.com

I'll check back often and just start reading backward

Thanks!

Is that sixth grade science as a teacher or student ?
I checked out your web blog yesterday - very nice..
Saw your information on meal worms . Are they hard to raise.
I was thinking about raising some when I get fully retired to feed the chickens and pond fish.
i understand they are good as bait also.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Is that sixth grade science as a teacher or student ? 
I checked out your web blog yesterday - very nice..
Saw your information on meal worms . Are they hard to raise.
I was thinking about raising some when I get fully retired to feed the chickens and pond fish.
i understand they are good as bait also.

Oh, WOW I will have to check out the site. I may have to raise worms for proteins for my chickens since I need to seriously cut back on their free ranging because of all the predators lately. It has been horrific.

 

[cubalaya]

ok so how was my post negative or trying to start a contest? as your third post, you chose to take a shot at the Virginia thread and saying another thread was needed. all I said was why don't you start another thread since you were the one saying we needed another thread. I think some people like to start drama that is not even there. and some people have really thin skin and get offended over nothing.

hi ap and av. thanks for complimenting my birds. I like them a lot but am forever trying to make improvements with the cubas. the asils just need preserving as they are some of the best.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

I love the Cubalayas, Phoenix, phoenix Bantams and Ohiki. They are such showey birds. Beautiful!

3 rd post they made. Lets welcome them with open arms and encourage them to start new threads for their area and their breeds.

I would love for someone with Calico Cochin Bantams in Southwestern, Va to start a thread. The problem is they dont do well up here. They can not be free ranging because they are slow runners and the predators are very fast. So I guess it would have to be a front porch pet for someone up here and I Heard about their cute tiny eggs and sweet personalities. Yes,... And everyone I rehomed to friends up here have been killed off to predators. Sad. I stopped giving away those adorable chickens to friends. I rehomed Ohiki also and they met with the same fate. They just dont do well up here. It is colder here than down the mountains. Light weights dont do well. I had to regroup and come up with another Master Plan.

I even considered going back (way back) to 4 H days and just do RIRs up here on the rooftop of Virginia. This Master aplan I have been slowly gravitaing towards for 3 years. I am almost there, I think.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

What I need is 10 feet of chicken!
Lets see a hawk or coyote try and carry that off!
They will be able to run.

 

[Woodsdweller]

Hey ReMe.. How are things up on your mountain? Maybe your plans are getting in the way of your enjoying your cluckers... that... and the predations. Just saying..

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Hey you!
I thought, well the Ohiki are too easily carried off by the hawk. The Phoenix Bantams not much larger were easy snacks for the Coyotes. I really thought the Phoenix for their size would not be easy prey, I was wrong. I even tried Marans (1) a roo. He was big and strong, he also was coyote fodder. I need a big chicken. Big. BIG. I thought with the shere size of the English Orpingtons a hawk or coyote would turn and run. I was wrong. Fust they have to get to a big size and even then I have discovered the hawk will eat them in place and not tote them off. The coyote dont care how big they are. Have you seen the size of the Coyote around these parts? They are bigger than German Shepards. English Orpingtons are slower moving than the land racers. And the wee Calico Cochin Bantams with their feathered feet are just plain slow.
The hawk are brazen they dont care we are outside or not an very fast, they come in zooming, hit hard, grab and gone. The coyote are sneaky and quick. So are the fox. Oh yes, the mink come down the creek and wipe out everything they can. They take no chicken with them. They kill and rip the base of their throats out and are gone in a flash leaving behind the chicken. They come only at night and can fit through chainlink fencing. I dont know how many were killed because I dont know how many were in that house because the Mink came during the night after the coyote attacks early evening and that actually followed the daytime attacks of the hawk.

I am about to throw in the towel and raise only for us and no free ranging. Just rotate the runs so grass has a chance to grow. They love to eat their greens, especially my herb garden. Well they loved to play in the creek and eat worms too but that is not happening now cause so many are now dead and gone from the attacks. I must make sure chickens are good, solid and healthy and then sell down to a smaller group. I am not kidding about the 4 runs only NOW. How can I eat them? They are pets. Almost. Sort of. I must rehome some varieties just to keep the "pets" alive. All the Red, Buff, Lavender and Blue hens and pullets are on the list to go.

I need a chicken 10 feet tall.

 

[split poplar]

Is that sixth grade science as a teacher or student ?
I checked out your web blog yesterday - very nice..
Saw your information on meal worms . Are they hard to raise.
I was thinking about raising some when I get fully retired to feed the chickens and pond fish.
i understand they are good as bait also.

LOL! Definitely a teacher

Mealworms are not hard to raise just pretty time consuming if you want enough to feed chickens. Easier just to buy them! ;-)

I appreciate the kind words about the site! It's the first one I've ever set up so it's not perfect... but keeping up with the blog is going to be fun I think! I'd really like to make the blog page more interactive like in the form of a discussion forum but I guess people could just reply to the posts if they wanted to interact and ask questions. I don't know. Thanks!

 

[annabellaknits]

Hey guys long time no communicate. Anyway, I have been having a hell of a time with a neighborhood fox. The second I think Ive out smarted him he beats me again. Long story short I need some hatching eggs. I know its not the ideal time of year but I cant wait for eggs for almost another year and with only 5 girls left to give me eggs for the winter I am going to rush to hatch out some chicks and get them started before winter hits. So if any of you can help. I would prefer local pickup throughout Virginia and/or Maryland but will also buy online and have them shipped if I need to.
What Im looking for:
Mille Fluer d'Uccles
Barnevelder/Barnvelder
Isbar
Cream Legbars
Bielefelder

So either rare breeds and/or color egg layers. Or any of the darkest brown egg layers.

I guess open to anything that will give me a unique color basket.

Thanks for any help guys